Iron Pot  L’house,
February 12 1881

Charley will be 12 months old the 6th next month and got 9 teeth but the natives generally have bad teeth the want of the oatmeal.

My dear Mother,

I have now to answer your two last letters the latest Dec 28 and am glad to hear that you and all at home are well. I remember "long ago" you used to say that I was to find you a snug corner when I had an house of my own, but it has fallen to the youngest to be able to do so, as our accommodation is so limited that I have applied for another room to be built.

I have now to tell you that I wrote up to Capt. Rogers the master of the "Lufia" if he would be so kind as to take charge of the box for you, and he wrote back to tell me to send it up and he would forward it. As it was fine I went off the to the "Lufia" as she passed out on the 7th and saw Mrs Matthews and gave her the leaflet and book. She has lost her baby since she has been here and seemed to feel her double loss greatly and appears to be a nice quiet person not one I should imagine claculated to battle with the world. Her parents are alive but pretty old and did not wish her to come out. Capt. Rogers is as far as I know a fine young fellow and was very kind to Mrs M. I heard that Matthews was soon to have had a ship of his own to command.

As the year was an expensive one I did not send you any skins this time only the Cape G jam. I boiled down a bushel and sent you nearly all. I hope that you will like it. There is also a small jar of orange which is the cheapest jam we make a fraction less than /3d a pound. I could not get the "Eucalypol" in time but will send it as soon as possible by the mail. I sent a bottle of "pain killers" but have not much faith in it. I have found great benefit from Powels balsam of aniseeds in colds and the pills seem very good also. I have been using sasafaux back lately and I know my appetite is much better. I had a letter from Uncle E this mail and he said that it seems so short a time since he used to be at Killough and now I have a family, and I was thinking much the same last birthday, especially as there are a few silver threads making their appearance, but thank God I could do a hard day’s work yet. This has been a very dry windy season and potatoes were very dear but have fallen now in price. I had about 4 cwt. in the garden which was a good help. Fish are very plenty at present and there are a great many fishing partys come down here. Our annual regatta was on the 8th. We saw it from the top of a hill close to this place about 9 miles off and could distinguish the different races and the "Wolverine" H.M.S. was flag ship. There are 5 Men of War in the harbour so that makes it lively. Mrs Upton is better lately, but rather feeble. Did you receive a photo of Annie. We sent it after Charley’s carte. I enclose a gem of Mrs Upton and a card which was attached to a prize of Annies. It is pity all of English and Scottish extraction could not leave Ireland for 6 months to the Fenians. There would be then nobody left then to shoot the landlords. So with love from Chris and Children to Grandma, Aunts and Uncles.

I remain, dear Mother,

ever your affect son

James C. Parkinson

Love to sisters and brothers and remembrance to Joe and Sophy. I forgot to acknowledge Frank’s letter.